Cover Manager and SLT PA

Job Introduction

Start date:                September 2026

Closing date:           9am, 10 July 2026

Interview Date:        Monday 13 July 2026 

We are seeking to appoint an exceptional Cover Manager and PA to the Senior Leadership Team. This is an exciting opportunity to join The Hamble School and play a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth day-to-day operation of the school. 

Our vision ‘We Care, We Aim High, We Learn and Achieve Together’ encapsulates the work we do every day. Our intake numbers are increasing – we currently have 1,090 students. In March 2025 we were graded as ‘Good’ in all areas by Ofsted and we are continuing to ensure that we provide the very best education for all our students.

This is a varied and rewarding role combining responsibility for the effective management of staff cover arrangements with high-level administrative and organisational support for the Senior Leadership Team. 

The Cover Manager makes a vital contribution to school life by organising, planning and allocating cover arrangements for planned and unplanned staff absences. Key responsibilities include:

• Coordinating and managing the daily timetable for internal cover and supply staff to ensure continuity of learning.
• Using school information systems and technology to organise cover arrangements efficiently.
• Liaising with Heads of Department to ensure appropriate cover work is available.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with external supply agencies.
• Authorising agency invoices and managing online timesheets as required.
• Greeting and inducting supply staff, ensuring safeguarding procedures and relevant training requirements are met.
• Supporting the recruitment and selection of members of the cover team.
• Monitoring staff absences through reporting systems and planning cover proactively.
• Ensuring all administration relating to cover arrangements is completed accurately and in line with school policies and procedures.
• Providing classroom supervision and covering lessons when required, ensuring students remain engaged in purposeful learning activities and that high expectations for behaviour are maintained.

As PA to the Senior Leadership Team, you will provide comprehensive and confidential administrative support to senior leaders. Responsibilities include:

• Organising meetings, preparing agendas, taking minutes and distributing actions as required.
• Drafting, formatting and distributing correspondence, reports and presentations.
• Maintaining confidential records and handling sensitive information with discretion.
• Assisting with school communications to parents, staff, governors and external agencies.
• Supporting Senior Leaders with project administration, data collation and reporting.

 The successful candidate will:

• Be educated to GCSE level or equivalent, including English and Mathematics.
• Have excellent administrative and organisational skills.
• Demonstrate strong IT skills and confidence using management information systems and Microsoft Office applications. Experience of SIMS would be an advantage. 
• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Be able to prioritise workloads, meet deadlines and remain calm under pressure.
• Demonstrate initiative, resilience, professionalism and attention to detail.
• Be able to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion at all times.
• Have experience of working in a busy administrative environment.

In return, we can offer you:

• A positive and supportive working environment focused on staff wellbeing and student success.
• Opportunities to further develop your skills and professional expertise.
• Personal career development opportunities.
• Access to excellent on-site facilities, including gym and swimming facilities operated by Everyone Active.
• Discounted childcare opportunities through Hamble Early 

We welcome visits to the school to see us in action and invite you to come and have an informal chat and meet the deputy Headteacher.

For further details please go to the school website www.thehambleschool.co.uk, click on ‘Our School’ and ‘Vacancies’.

To apply please click “Apply”. New users of Education Jobs South will need to register an account – you may need to check your junk email folder for set up instructions and add no-reply@education-jobs.org.uk to your list of safe senders. To arrange a visit or to find out more about this vacancy, please contact Jenni Fradgley, HR Officer, at hr@thehambleschool.co.uk.  If you currently work in a school, please ensure your first reference is from your current Headteacher.  

We look forward to receiving your application. 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. 

The Hamble School and Hampshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS certificate with children’s barred list check along with other relevant employment checks. As such, please note that under safer recruitment requirements for Children’s Services, prior to interview online searches will be undertaken and references will be requested. The Hamble School’s Safeguarding and Child Protection policies can be located via the school website https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/policies-procedures/